COUNTY OFFERING FREE PET ADOPTIONS ALL AUGUST FOR CLEAR THE SHELTERS

COUNTY CLOSES THREE PARKS IN AUGUST TO PROTECT HIKERS FROM HEAT

CONGRESSWOMAN SARA JACOBS SPEAKS OUT ON MEDICAID CUTS, ICE, AND MORE AT TOWN HALL IN REP. DARRELL ISSA’S DISTRICT

OUR EAST COUNTY DINING CLUB INVITES YOU TO ZEST WINE BISTRO AUGUST 21

SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES SHOOT, KILL SUSPECT WHO FIRED AT OFFICERS AFTER SWAT STANDOFF IN SANTEE

DISPARATE IMPACTS IN FAIR HOUSING AND HOW TO GET HELP

OUR GUIDE TO EAST COUNTY’S CITY SCENES

TSUNAMI ADVISORY FOR WEST COAST INCLUDING SAN DIEGO AFTER MASSIVE 8.8 EARTHQUAKE

JACUMBIA FEST BRINGS AFRO-COLUMBIAN RHYTHMS TO JACUMBA AUG. 30

BEACH BOYS’ AL JARDINE AND HIS PET SOUNDS BAND WILL ROCK THE MAGNOLIA NOV. 22

FUNDRAISING SITE AIMS TO HELP BORREGO SPRINGS WOMAN WHO LOST HOME TO FIRE

NEW TRUMP ADMIN POLICY BARS MANY STUDENTS FROM ADULT SCHOOL CLASSES

HIGHWAY 78 CLOSED

September 11, 2010 (San Pasqual) – Highway 78 is closed in both directions on the east side of the San Diego Wild Animal Park and is expected to remain closed until at last 12:30 p.m. , according to the California Highway Patrol. Traffic is being diverted to Bandy Canyon and Haverford while emergency crews search for the driver of a vehicle involved in a serious accident who left a trail of blood leading into a nearby canyon, the Union-Tribune reports.

JUDGE DECLARES ‘DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL’ UNCONSTITUTIONAL

 

By Miriam Raftery
Former ECM intern Joseph Rocha gave key testimony at trial

September 10, 2010 (San Diego) – U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips ruled yesterday that the U.S. military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy banning openly gay soldiers from serving is unconstitutional, violating the First and Fifth Amendments. The judge found that the policy has a “direct and deleterious effect” on military readiness by hindering recruitment in wartime and requiring discharge of service members who have critical skills or training.

"I am overjoyed that so many veterans and active duty members have been honored with justice. The decision upholds the constitution proving that no patriots blood is any less valuable in the defense of our nation." Joseph Rocha, an award-winning ECM journalism intern who testified at the trial, told ECM in an e-mail this evening. A former Navy dog handler, Rocha underwent 93 counts of abuse at the hands of an officer while serving in Bahrain.

Read our prior coverage and interview with Rocha on his ordeal. View his testimony (pagse 27-34) here.

LA MESA SPOTLIGHT: INCUMBENT COUNCILMAN ERNEST EWIN

 

From Big Picture to Specifics

By Kristin Kjaero and Miriam Raftery

In part two of this series on election races in La Mesa, East County Magazine spotlights incumbent Ernie Ewin. For this series we asked all candidates the same set of questions on local issues, with an open invitation to bring up anything else they would like to discuss at the end of the session. We want each candidate to speak for themselves.

 

 

September 2, 2010 (La Mesa) --Talk to Councilman Ernie Ewin about issues in the community and you’ll hear a wide-reaching perspective. From his early days in first grade at Murray Manor, to serving as Student Body President at Grossmont Community College, and on to San Diego State University, his roots in the community run deep.

I-8 TO SHUT DOWN SUNDAY NIGHT

 

September 10, 2010 (El Cajon) -- A full freeway closure of eastbound Interstate 8 (I-8) is scheduled for Sunday night, according to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Highway construction crews will close all eastbound lanes between Second Street and Greenfield Drive in El Cajon. The closure will beginning with one lane closed at 7 p.m. then all lanes closed by 10 p.m.. The freeway will begin to reopen at 6 the following morning with all lanes open by 7 a.m.

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON: LAKESIDE RIVER PARK FUNDRAISER SEPT. 25

 

September 9, 2010 (Lakeside) -- Lakeside's River Park will be hosting it's 4th annual signature fundraiser, Once in a Blue Moon Dinner & Auction on September 25th, 2010. Cocktails start at 5 p..m, dinner at 7 p.m. RSVPs are required by September 15 for this unique event.

Lakeside's River Trail is used by families, students, walkers and joggers as well as dogs and horses. But on September 25th the trail is transformed into a magical space along the San Diego River.

SOCCER MATCHES HIGHLIGHT OPENING WEEK OF SAN DIEGO SENIOR OLYMPICS

by Christopher Mohr

September 10, 2010 (San Diego) - If you think that you are too old to be active, you won't find much sympathy from this crowd. Over 100 players ages 50 and older from throughout the County played a series of soccer matches last weekend (9/4-5) at the Chargers' former practice field in the Qualcomm Stadium parking lot. The featured game was a championship in the age 60+ group between the U.S. and South Korean teams. Teams participated in 8-on-8 as well as fully-configured 11-on-11 matches.

3 POLITICAL EVENTS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16


September 10, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Political wonks, mark your calendars! Three major political events are slated for September 16th.

La Mesa Chamber of Commerce hosts a forum for La Mesa mayoral and council candidates. East County Democratic Club has a forum on ballot initiatives plus state legislative and Congressional candidates. In addition, the Eastlake-Bonita Democratic Club has candidates for legislature, school boards, and more.

BREAKING NATIONAL NEWS: EXPLOSION, FIRE DESTROY 53 HOMES IN BAY AREA

September 9, 2010 – At least 28 people have been injured and one killed in a fiery gas explosion in San Bruno, California. Flames up to 1,000 feet high have destroyed 53 homes and damaged 120 more; about 100 people are now in evacuation centers.

 

Cause of the blaze, which continues to burn,  is believed to be a burst gas pipe. Details:

 

21ST ANNUAL SYCUAN POW-WOW SEPT. 10, 11 & 12

September 9, 2010 (El Cajon) – Native American dancers, drummers, and bird singers from across the nation will convene at the Sycuan reservation this weekend for the 21st annual Sycuan Pow-Wow. The three-day event (September 10, 11 and 12) will also feature Indian foods, Native American arts and crafts, and informational booths. The pow-wow is free and open to the public.

 

GROSSMONT INSTRUCTORS PRESENT GUITAR CONCERT FRIDAY, SEPT. 17

September 9, 2010 (El Cajon)--The Grossmont College Guitar Guild will present “Odeum Guitar Duo,” a fund-raising performance for the Guitar Guild by two Grossmont College guitar instructors Fred Benedetti and Robert Wetzel, starting at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17, at the College’s recital hall, room 220.

EASTLAKE TAVERN AND BOWL CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY WITH $5 LUAU SEPT. 10

September 10, 2010 (Eastlake) –Aloha! EastLake Tavern and Bowl is hosting a luau to celebrate its first anniversary. A Hawaiian luau buffet includes whole roasted pig plate, lumpia, and mango ice cream. The event also features Hawaiian drink specials, contests, and more.

NEW HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS

 

October programs offered through Sharp Grossmont Hospital

 

September 9, 2010 (La Mesa) -- Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s Senior Resource Center offers free or low-cost educational programs and health screenings each month. The Senior Resource Center also provides information and assistance for health information and community resources.

GOVERNOR, IN SAN DIEGO, SIGNS CHELSEA’S LAW

 

September 9, 2010 (San Diego) -- At a ceremony today in Balboa Park, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB 1844 into law. The bill, named for slain Poway high school student Chelsea King, provides life-without-parole sentences for California’s most dangerous sex offenders, including first-time offenders. It also lengthens parole terms for those who commit crimes against children under age 14, restricts sex offenders from entering public parks, and provides other  protections.

BRUSH FIRE NEAR VALLEY CENTER

 

Update 2:35 p.m. Forward spread of this fire has been stopped.

September 9, 2010 (Valley Center) 2:15 p.m. – Cal-Fire is on the scene of a two- to three-acre brush fire off of Old Guejito Grade Road and North Lake Wohlford Road, near the community of Valley Center (Thomas Brothers Map page 1111 C-1). The fire was reported at 1:48 p.m. and the cause is under investigation. The fire is burning to the east and there is no immediate structure threat.

HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS & SENIORS: WIN A $1,500 SCHOLARSHIP WITH ESSAY ON BUSINESS ETHICS

 

September 9, 2010 (San Diego)--Before the new school year gets even busier for your favorite high school junior or senior, the San Diego Better Business Bureau (BBB) is inviting all 11th and 12th graders to write and submit a 400-word essay on the importance of marketplace ethics and receive up to a $1,500 scholarship from the BBB.

BOMB SQUAD IN ROLANDO AREA

Update 11 p.m. - The Bomb Squad has blown up the device, a pipe bomb, which was thrown from a vehicle in a Fed Ex box with wires attached.

 

September 8, 2010 (Rolando) – Incident Page Network reports that a bomb squad and robot have been dispatched to examine a suspicious device in the 3900 block of Vista Grande in Rolando, near the College area. 

 

About 20 homes are being evacuated, officer Dino Delimitros with San Diego Police told East County Magazine at 9:25 p.m. Asked if the Bomb Squad has determined that the device in the street is an explosive, he replied, “They said it looks like it.” The device appears to be a pipe bomb, he added. 

BOOK REVIEW: BEYOND JUSTICE IS A MASTERFUL LEGAL THRILLER SET IN SAN DIEGO


Beyond Justice, By Joshua Graham (Dawn Treader Press, 2010, 430 pages.)

Book Review by Dennis Moore

 

September 8, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- San Diego author Joshua Graham has written a riveting and supernatural legal thriller, Beyond Justice, that at times has spiritual overtones. Beyond Justice is the story of Sam Hudson, a reputable San Diego attorney who descends into a hell not of his making after authorities wrongfully convict him of the brutal rape and murder of his wife and daughter.

 

On Death Row, he awaits execution by lethal injection while he agonizes over the fate of his young son Aaron, who was beaten into a coma during the attacks.

FREE BARN DANCE! SWING YOUR PARTNER SEPT. 11 IN POWAY

 

September 8, 2010 (Poway) – Grab your partner and head on out to Old Poway Park, where a free barn dance will be held on Saturday, September 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. Bring your dancing shoes, participate in free traditional dance lessons, and dance the evening away to toe-tapping western music.

 

HOT GREEN EVENTS: SUSTAINABLE ENERGY WEEK SEPT. 12-16

The California Center for Sustainable Energy announces Sustainable Energy Week Sept. 12-16. Activities include a free Family Energy Day & Street Smart event September 12, Clean Energy Tours September 14 and 15, and a Clean Energy Conference September 16.

MORE WHOOPING COUGH CASES FOUND IN EAST COUNTY


Number of cases approaches 500 countywide as epidemic grows

 

September 8, 2010 (San Diego) -- County Health and Human Services Agency officials report  495 confirmed cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, in 2010—triple the number last year. Today, the County announced dozens of new cases, including three in East County.

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